Ice maker apparatus



Aug. 11,

Filed April 21, 1960 J. K. NELSON ICE MAKER APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESS E8 INVENTOR JAMES K.NEL SON aw 0&

ATTORNEY 964 J. K. NELSON 3,143,863

ICE MAKER APPARATUS Filed April 21, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F l 6.6. Y

mvzmon JAMES KNELSON a ha I BY v ATTORNE WITNESSES I a.

Unite es P ten 3,143,863 ICE MAKER APPARATUS James K. Nelson, Grove City, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Apr. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 23,714

8 Claims. (Cl. 62-72) This invention relates to ice making apparatus and more particularly to means and a method for controlling the production of ice by such appaartus.

A number of automatic ice making machines currently being marketed are capable of producing batches of ice pieces as required to keep a storage container filled. These are customarily equipped with a so-called termination control which automatically suspends ice production when the container is filled to capacity. Despite considerable consumer interest in machines of this type only a limited number of them have been incorporated indomestic refrigerators. Some of these machines are inconvenient because their termination control employs oneor more feeler elements which normally extend into the storage container, making it difilcult to remove the container from the freezer compartment.

Unsatisfactory performance is oftentimes encountered in older machines when ice pieces are not consumed over an extended period and the feeler remains in one position. In this situation joints and springs associated with the feeler as well as other movable components of the ice maker gradually accumulate frost and ice to the point where they become jammed, and theice maker cannot function properly. And, if the ice maker is installed in a freezer compartment equipped with an automatic defrosting system which melts frost and ice from the ice maker, or melts ice in the storage container, it is possible that the ice maker and the control therefor will malfunction due, for example, to the feeler getting stuck to an ice piece after partial melting and refreezing of a con .tacted ice piece.

Still other prior arrangements are too complex to lend themselves to economical manufacture.

3,143,863 vPatented Aug. 11, 1964 ice in this region further movement of the feeler is arrested and the arrested condition of the feeler is employed to suspend the production of ice by not charging the mold with water until the feeler is again brought into this region without encountering stored ice pieces. The feeler is moved periodically with indifference to the production Most of the aforementioned disadvantages of prior art 7 ice makers are eliminated in an ice maker constructed and operated in accordance with the present invention. Briefly, this invention envisions operating some or all of the components of the ice maker on a continuous basis. In other words, the ice maker continues to undergo the motions of producing batches of ice pieces regardless of the quantity of ice pieces stored in the storage container. Harmful ice buildup on moving parts of the ice maker is thereby prevented. The production of ice is controlled by rendering effective or ineffective the means whereby the mold of the ice maker is filled or charged with water. Control of the admission of water to the ice mold is exercised byrneans which periodically senses the quantity of ice pieces in the container and which, upon sensing that the container is full, permits the ice maker to continue to operate but does not permit the mold to be filled, so that no additional ice pieces are produced, and upon sensing that the container has less than a full quantity of ice permits the mold to be filled with water, so that production of ice is resumed.

Further, in accordance with the invention, sensing of the quantity of ice in the storage container is preferably accomplished by means of a feeler member. In repose, the latter occupies a position free of the container and the ice pieces therein so as not to interfere with the removal of the container or the ice pieces. In order to sense, or measure, the quantity of stored ice, this feeler is periodically moved into a region adjacent, or in, the container, which region is occupied by ice pieces only when the container is filled. Upon encounteringice pieces or suspension of production of ice pieces, thus effecting the continued suspension of ice production or the resumption of ice production depending, respectively,-upon said container being filled or not filled with ice pieces.

It is a feature of the present invention where the ice maker goes through the motions of making ice, even though the mold is not charged with water and ice production is suspended or interrupted solely by not charging the mold with water, that accumulation of frost between relatively movable parts is prevented. j

The various objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from'the following detailed description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a refrigerator incorporating ice making apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention; I V

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ice making apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end View of the apparatus of FIG. 2, show: ing the mold in upright or water freezing position;

. FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the apparatus with its mold in position for dumping ice pieces into the container when the latter is empty or partially filled; j

- FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, differing therefrom in that the container is filled with ice pieces;

- FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the ice making apparatus of FIG. 1, but in the position of FIG. 4; and FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of a motion converting device usable in the ice making apparatus of FIG. 1.

In the drawing, the numeral 10 designates insulated wall structure of a domestic refrigerator, or the like, having a freezing compartment 12 therein. As is well understood in the art of refrigeration, suitable means, not shown, may be provided in the refrigerator for cir culatingrefrigerant through coils 14 arranged in heat transfer relationship with the under side of a horizontal storage shelf 16. Additional refrigerant-conducting coils 17 are placed in heat transfer relationship with'the walls of compartment 12 .to maintain a water freezing temperature therein; however, the same may be accomplished by conveying cold air thereto. The compartment 12 is ac cessible to the user of the refrigerator through a front opening which is closed by a movable door 18 shown in FIG. 1. j I

On shelf 16 rests an ice mold 20 comprising part of an automatic ice maker which is designated as a whole by the numeral 22. The ice maker 22 is adapted to produce and discharge ice pieces 24, thelatter being transferred to .a storage container 26 preferably having a top opening for admitting them. Container 26 is removably disposed in compartment 12. V The automatic ice maker 22 chosen to illustrate the present invention is of the twist-tray type described. and claimed in the present applicants copending application Serial No. 566,582, filed February 22, 1956, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The ice maker of the cited application utilizes a flexible and movable mold 20 for forming ice pieces 24. At 0011f trolled intervals the mold 20 is swung upwardly from a first or rest position of FIG. 3 to a slightly inverted position and is twisted (see FIG. 4) to cause the ice pieces 24 to be transferred. or dumped therefrom. The

aforesaid transfer movement is accomplished by means of a mold-turning mechanism including an electrically energized motor 28 which, through a shaft 29 and a motion converting device 30, swings the mold 20 about a longitudinal edge thereof. The device 30 converts rotary movement of the motor 28 to oscillating, swinging movement of the mold 20 so that in one revolution of the motor the mold is moved from the rest position of FIG. 3 to the dump position of FIG. 4, then returned to rest position wherein it is capable of receiving water to be frozen. The motor 28 is energized periodically, as will be described, the time interval between energizations allowing a predetermined quantity of water to freeze in the mold 20.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a motion converting device 30 which converts rotary motion of the motor 28 into oscillating, turning movement of the shaft 29, as well as the mold 20 connected thereto. Briefly stated, it comprises a linkage system 31, connected between shaft 29 and the motor shaft 32, to oscillate the shaft 29 through a range of approximately 110 degrees of movement about its axis.

Referring especially to FIGS. 1 and 6, the mold 20 receives water to be frozen from a charging system including a spout 34 connected to one end of a conduit 36 leading from a metering storage tank 38. The latter is, in turn, connected by a conduit 40 to a source of pressurized water, indicated generally at 42. Conduit 36 is opened or closed by means of a control valve 44 which is normally biased to a closed position, but which may be opened by pushing upon an actuator stem 46. A similar valve, designated by the numeral 48, is connected in conduit 40 between the inlet to the metering tank 38 and the source of pressurized water 42. Valve 48 is also normally closed and provided with an actuator stem 50 which, when pushed, opens conduit 40.

It is to be understood that electrical switches may be used in place of actuator stems and that remotely positioned, solenoid-operated valves may be employed.

The metering tank 38 includes a spring-loaded diaphragm 52 which is moved under the pressure from the supply source to increase the volumetric capacity of the tank 38 to an extent equal to the volume of water with which the mold 20 is to be charged.

When the mold 20 is to be charged, first the valve 44 on the outlet side of tank 38 is closed, and valve 48 is opened to condition the charging system for operation by filling or replenishing the tank with fresh water against the bias of diaphragm 52. Then valve 48 is closed; and the charging system is tripped by opening valve 44, causing the spring loaded diaphragm 52 to force water out of tank 38 through conduit 36 and into the mold 20. The means for opening and closing the valves 44 and 48 by pushing upon, or releasing, their respective stems 46 and 50 will be described hereinafter.

A timer 53, shown in FIG. 6 connected to electrical conductors L1 and L2, controls the periodic energization of motor 28, which in turn sets in motion the ice transferring mechanism and the water charging system.

Control of the water charging system is, in accordance with this invention, exercised by means which senses the quantity of ice in the storage container 26. This sensing means preferably comprises a feeler member or shoe 54 which is movable toward and away from container 26. The shoe 54 is preferably an elongated, rigid member connected to the end of a crank arm 56 which in turn, extends in a radial direction from a pivotally supported bar 58, these parts being positioned to permit swinging movement of the shoe 54 toward and away from a region in the vicinity of the container opening which contains ice pieces only when the container is full. Movement is imparted to the shoe 54 from the mold 20 through a looped connecting spring 68 which is linked at its ends, respectively, to the mold 20 and the shoe 54. With this resilient interconnection between the shoe 54 and the motor shaft 32, the shoe 54 is moved periodically toward the interior or contents of the container 26 whenever the mold 20 is moved in response to the energization of motor 28 to the inverted position of FIGS. 4 and 6. But when the container is filled, ice pieces 24 occupy a region at the container opening, movement of the shoe 54 is arrested, and spring 60 flexes to permit overtravel of the mold 20 (with its driving parts) to the inverted position of FIG. 5.

The bar 58 which carries the shoe 54 has, in addition to arm 56, a radially extending member 66 connected thereto. Member 66 actuates water flow control valve 48 and renders the charging system effective by pushing stem 50 of valve 48 incident to movement of the shoe 54 through a complete range of movement, i.e., to the position shown in FIG. 4, thereby opening valve 48 and admitting water to the tank 38. Valve 48 is closed when mold 20 is returned to its upright position since mold 20 carries with it the shoe 54 and member 66. It will be noted that, unlike previous constructions, the shoe 54 is returned to the position of FIG. 1 even after having its movement arrested by contact with ice pieces, as in FIG. 5.

A cam 62 is rigidly and eccentrically mounted on shaft 29 (see FIG. 6); and it is arranged to close valve 44 by releasing its stem 46 when the mold 20 is turned with shaft 29 to an inverted position. And, when shaft 29 is turned to return mold 20 to an upright position wherein it may be recharged with water, cam 62 pushes stem 46 and opens valve 44, thereby permitting the spring biased diaphragm 52 to eject a fixed quantity of water from the tank 38 into mold 20.

When the container 26 is filled with ice pieces 24 and the path of movement of shoe 54 is arrested or blocked, member 66 does not engage stem 50 and valve 48 remains closed, thereby suspending the production of ice by rendering the mold charging system ineffective; and shoe 54 is returned to its position of repose, as in FIG. 1.

Even when ice production is suspended by keeping mold 20 empty, however, the ice maker 22 continues to go through the motions of making ice, thus keeping frost and ice from accumulating between relatively movable parts and jamming them. And, the feeler member or shoe 54 is periodically moved to sense the presence or absence of ice pieces in the region of the container opening, with indifference to the operation or suspension of ice production.

According to the present invention, the method of automatically producing pieces of ice to be stored in the container 26, so long as the container is not filled with ice pieces, comprises several repeated steps. First the mold 20 is filled with water from tank 38 so long as the tank contains water. Then the mold is subjected to water freezing conditions for a period long enough to freeze a mold full of water and the means for transferring ice from the container to the mold is operated. The latter two steps are repeated continuously regardless of Whether or not the mold is filled during the mold filling step. The tank 38 is allowed to remain empty or it is replenished with water depending, respectively, upon the container being filled or not filled with ice pieces.

It is a convenience feature of the present arrangement that the shoe 54 remains out of container 26, in its position of repose, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, except when it is moved periodically to sense if ice pieces are present in the region at the opening in container 26, as in FIGS. 4 and 5. Thus, the container 26 may be readily removed from the freezer compartment 12 without the feeler getting in the way except periodically during a brief sensing period. In addition, when applied to refrigerators equipped for automatic defrosting of the freezer compartment 12, the shoe 54 has little opportunity to stick to a contacted ice piece after a defrosting and refreezing sequence; and it is therefore more dependable.

While the invention has been shown in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications Without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of controlling the production of ice by an ice maker, comprising continuously and alternately performing the two steps of: first, subjecting a mold to water freezing conditions for a period long enough to freeze a predetermined quantity of Water in the mold; and second, effecting operation of means for transferring any frozen contents in said mold to a storage container, and sensing periodically the quantity of ice in said container, and charging the mold with said predetermined quantity of water following said second step only when less than a predetermined quantity of ice is sensed in said container, said first step and the movement of said transferring means being repeated continuously regardless of the quantity of said frozen ice in said container.

2. A method of automatically producing pieces of ice to be stored in a container which comprises the repeated steps of: firstly, filling a mold with water from a metering tank; secondly, subjecting said mold to water freezing conditions for a period long enough to freeze a quantity of water in said mold; thirdly, efiecting operation of means for transferring any frozen contents in said mold to said container; and fourthly, periodically replenishing the water in said tank or not depending, respectively, upon said container being not filled or filled with ice pieces; the second step and the movement of the transferring means being repeated continuously regardless of whether said container is not filled or filled with ice pieces.

3. In an automatic ice maker for use with an ice storage container having an opening for receiving pieces of ice, and wherein a region at said container opening is occupied by ice pieces when said container a filled, the combination with means for producing ice pieces in a mold and means for transferring ice pieces from said mold to said container; said ice producing means including means for filling said mold with water; of a member positioned in a first position outside said region and movable to a second position in said region, drive means and means interconnecting said drive means and said member for periodically moving said member from said first position to said second position and then back to said first position, said interconnecting means permitting the movement of said member from said first position to said second position to be arrested by ice pieces occupying said region without preventing the movement of said member back to first position, and means for suspending the production of ice by said ice producing means incident to the movement of said member into said region having been arrested by ice pieces in said region until said member is subsequently moved into said region, said drive means and interconnecting means being operable to move said member periodically regardless of the production or suspension of production of ice by said ice producing means.

4. In an automatic ice maker for use with an ice storage container having an opening for receiving pieces of ice and wherein a region at said container opening is occupied by ice pieces when said container is filled, the combination with means for producing ice pieces in a mold and means for transferring ice pieces from said mold to said container, said ice producing means including means for filling said mold with water; of a member positioned in a first position outside said region and movable to a second position into said region, actuating mechanism operable to maintain said member in said first position during operation of said ice producing means and periodically move said member from said first position to said second position and then back to said first position, said actuating mechanism permitting the movement of said member from said first position to said second position to be arrested by ice pieces occupying said region without preventing the movement of 6 a said member back to first position, and means for pending the production of ice by said ice producing means incident to the movement of said member into said region having been arrested by ice pieces in said region until said member is moved into said region, said actuating mechanism being operable tomove said member periodically regardless of the production or suspension of production of ice by said ice producing means.

5. In an automatic ice maker for use with an ice storage container having an opening for receiving pieces of ice, and wherein a region at said container opening is occupied by ice pieces when said container is filled, the combination with means for producing ice pieces in a mold and means for transferring icepieces from said mold to'said container; said ice producing means including means for filling said mold with water; of a feeler positioned in a first position outside said region and movable to a second position in said region, drive means and resilient means interconnecting said drive means and said feeler for periodically moving said feeler from said first position to said second position and then back to said first position, said interconnecting means providing for overtravel of said drive means while permitting the movement of said feeler from said first position to said second position to be arrested by ice pieces occupying said region without preventing the movement of said feeler back to first position, and means for suspending the production of ice by said ice producing means incident to the movement of said feeler into said region having been arrested by ice pieces in said region until said feeler is subsequently moved into said region; said drive means and interconnecting means being op erable to move said feeler periodically regardless of the production or suspension of production of ice by said ice producing means, whereby the continued suspension of ice production or the resumption of ice production is effected depending, respectively, upon said container being filled or not filled with ice pieces.

6. Ice making apparatus comprising a mold for forming ice pieces, a container for storing ice pieces, means operable periodically for transferring the contents of said mold to said container, means for charging said mold with a predetermined quantity of water, said charging means being effective to deliver water to said mold only when conditioned for operation and tripped, means operable with said transferring means for periodically tripping said charging means, means for sensing the quantity of ice in said container and for conditioning said charging means for operation only when said container contains less than a predetermined quantity of ice, and means unaffected by said sensing means effecting periodic operation of said transferring means regardless of the presence or absence of water in said mold.

7. In an automatic ice maker for use in a refrigerated compartment with an ice storage container removably disposed in said compartment, said container having an opening for receiving pieces of ice, the combination with a mold in which ice pieces are formed, means movable from a first position to a second position for transferring ice pieces from said mold to said container and then from said second position to said first position, and means including a water fiow control operative when actuated for charging said mold with water, of a member movable into a region occupied by ice pieces only when the container is filled, means for drving said member toward said region when said transferring means moves from first position to second position to first position, and an element which actuates said water flow control incident to movement of said member into said region, the movement of said member into said region being arrested by ice pieces when said container is filled whereby said control of said charging means is not actuated by said element and the production of ice is interrupted.

8. In an automatic ice maker for use with a removable container for receiving and storing pieces of ice, said container being provided with an opening, the combination with a mold in which ice pieces are formed, means movable from a first position to a second position at the end of a freezing period for transferring ice pieces from said mold to said container and then from said second position to said first position, and means including a tank for charging said mold with water incident to the movement of said transferring means from second position to first position, of a member flexibly connected to said transferring means and movable thereby toward a region at said container opening which is occupied by ice pieces only when the container is filled, said member being withdrawn from said region by said transferring means when the latter moves from second position to first position, and means for filling said tank of said charging means with water incident to movement of said member into said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,757,520 Sampson Aug. 7, 1956 2,808,707 Chace Oct. 8, 1957 2,846,854 Galin Aug. 12, 1958 

1. A METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE PRODUCTION OF ICE BY AN ICE MAKER, COMPRISING CONTINUOUSLY AND ALTERNATELY PERFORMING THE TWO STEPS OF: FIRST, SUBJECTING A MOLD TO WATER FREEZING CONDITIONS FOR A PERIOD LONG ENOUGH TO FREEZE A PREDETERMINED QUANTITY OF WATER IN THE MOLD; AND SECOND, EFFECTING OPERATION OF MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING ANY FROZEN CONTENTS IN SAID MOLD TO A STORAGE CONTAINER, AND SENSING PERIODICALLY THE QUANTITY OF ICE IN SAID CONTAINER, AND CHARGING THE MOLD WITH SAID PREDETERMINED QUANTITY OF WATER FOLLOWING SAID SECOND STEP ONLY WHEN LESS THAN A PREDETERMINED QUANTITY OF ICE IS SENSED IN SAID CONTAINER, SAID FIRST STEP AND THE MOVEMENT OF SAID TRANSFERRING MEANS BEING REPEATED CONTINUOUSLY REGARDLESS OF THE QUANTITY OF SAID FROZEN ICE IN SAID CONTAINER. 